Question: Recently NASA got success in converting carbon dioxide into oxygen on which of the following planet?
a) Mars
b) Jupiter
c) Venus
d) Saturn
Ans: (a)
Related Facts:
- On 20 April, 2021 The Perseverance rover of Mars 2020 Mission of NASA converted carbon dioxide into oxygen.
- This experiment was performed through MOXIE, an instrument placed in the front facet of the rover.
- MOXIE is an experimental instrument aboard Perseverance called the Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment (MOXIE).
- MOXIE is a toaster-sized experimental instrument scientists attached with Perseverance rover which landed on Mars on February 18, 2021.
- This is the first time that any intrument has produced the oxygen in any other planet.
- MOXIE is in shape of a golden container placed in the front side of the rover.
- MOXIE is also called Mechanical Tree. This is because; it uses electricity and chemistry to cut up carbon molecules into carbon and oxygen.
- In due process, it produces carbon monoxide as a byproduct.
- MOXIE produced 5 grams of oxygen in its first run. It is equal to ten minutes of breathable oxygen for an astronaut performing a everyday activity.
- MOXIE is capable of producing ten grams of oxygen in one hour.
- MOXIE used to be designed by way of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
- It used to be built with nickel-alloy. The alloy is heat-resistant and is exact to tolerate temperatures of 1,470 ranges Fahrenheit.
- MOXIE used to be protected with gold coating so that the heat radiated does now not damage the rover.
- According to the scientists at MIT, one ton model of MOXIE is capable of producing twenty-five tonnes of oxygen.
Earlier missions have proved the presence of ice in Mars.
- Scientists agree that extracting oxygen from the Martian atmosphere, extra feasible than extracting oxygen from ice that is present in it’s under surface.
- It should be known that Mars’ atmosphere is prosperous in carbon dioxide in which two mokecules of oxygen are attached to single atom of carbon.
- Perseverance also carried the Ingenuity helicopter. The helicopter recently made its profitable flight.
By – Rajesh Tripathi